Mechanical integrating device and applications of the same, chiefly to a navigation-course recorder



. 1621394 March 15, 1927. c. J. M. RTIN v MECHANICAL INTEGRATING ICE AN PPLICATIONS CHIEFLY TO A NAVIGAT COURSE RECOR OF THE SAME, DER 4 4 Sheetar-Shoet 1 Filed June m" 27 c. F. J. M. BERTIN MECHANICAL INTEGRATING DEVICE AND APPLICATIONS OF THE SAME,

CHIEFLY T0 ANAVICATION COURSE RECORDER Filed June 27, 1924 4 Shoots-Shoot 2 .1; I B) I an W 4 0: 79- j .8 wz 9 z /0 I 5 5 M ,3, 01 02 a I DEVICE AND APPLICATIONS OF THE SAME 15, 1927' c, J. M. BERTIN MECHANICAL INTEGRATING CHIEFLY T0 NAVIGATION COURSE RECORDER Flled June 27, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 15, 1927- BERTIN MECHANICAL INTEGRATING DEVICE AND APPLICATIONS OF THE SAME,

CHIEFLY TO A NAVIGATION COURSE RECORDER Flled June 27, 1924 4 Sheets-Shoot 4 mmi? MEMZ Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

UNITED. STATES, PATENT OFFICE-1.;

' CHARLES IREDERIC JEAN MARIE IBERTIN, OI" IIUSTAPHA, ALGER, ALGERIA;

MECHANICAL INTEGRATING DEVICE AND APPLICATIONS OF SAME, CHIEI'LY TO r i A NAVIGATION -COURSE RECORDER.

Application filed June 27, 1924, Serial No. 722,834, and in France Iune 30, 1923.-

Present invention has for object the mechanical integration of a function (as) of a variable :v between the limits as, an 02,. This result is achieved by the algebraical addi- 5. tion of the several values flatf (m,) fla of the function fora number of values of a: chosen in the interval from a to w,, the sub-intervals between two such successive values being very small.

My integrating (or-algebraically adding) device comprises a controlling element, movements of which depend upon the 'variations of wand an actuated element giving the 811m f( 1)- l-f( 2)+ -,+f( n), h

curve 31:) hit-V111 been previously traced on said controlling element. v

The principle underlying invention .is the following The integration of curve y=f(w) drawn in A. B (Fig. 1) with reference to rectangular coordinates gives, as is well known, the area of surface A B m su In case of Fig. 2 on which a closed curve is shown the integration will give areaof surface enclosed by same. It is in this way that the area of a diagram is commonly used for measuring the power of a piston steam machine. Value of-. integral is, if one supposes m m w,,- to be successive values of a, very near 1(a) o-a) mam-a). +'.f( n n ll-l)- If the small intervals .(Qoffi) n B- are all equal to h,.it is very near l] o)+.f( 1)+ +f( n-'- ).l or proportional to f( o)+j( '1)+ +f( n' Therefore algebraically adding device described hereinbelow and giving said sum is also an integrating device. I 1 I The accompanying drawings illustrate by cording to invention and a course recorder working of'which is based on use of said integrating device.

Figs. 1 and2 show, examples of functions tobe integrated. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an integrating .angu

as stated hereinabove,

the type wherein the scale of distances is the same for all points of the chart. Fig. 11

is a. detail view thereof. Fig. 12 shows I a modified form of course recorder adapted for recording upon a chart with variable scale such as Mercators chart.

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically in-' tegrating device: two movable conducting surfaces 1 and 2 comprised for example on the same cylinder, are electrically separated and bounded by the curve 3 representing the function y:f(:v) on the developed cylinder and by the curve 4, obtained by rotation through a certain angle round axis of cylinder of the symmetrical curve of the curve 3 with reference to a perpendicular section,

of cylinder (the axis of a: being a development of periphery of said perpendicular section and the axis of y a generatrix The two-said curves are joined together y suitable curves in cases where extremities of same do .not coincide. .-A set of two brushes 5 and 6 is brought to bear upon said surfaces, said brushes being movable along generatrices of cylinder either in one direction or the other as explained hereinbelow. The said set of brushes is mounted upon a slide 7 forming a'nut'upon the screw'8. The angu lar distance between the. two brushes upon the c linder is equal to the above mentioned in rotation of the symmetrical curve of the curve 3 round axis of cylinder necessary to obtain curve 4. On Fig. 3 brushes are shown 180 apart and the two curves whichare two ellipses are turned 180 apart from their symmetrical position and thus coincide.

Two electric motors D and D fed by the supply 5 control the screw shaft 8 by means way of example, an integrating device ac-' of the diiferential gear shown diagrammati- .4

cally at 9; each motor may rotate in either direction according as it receives current through 15. or 14' for the motor- D or through 15 or 14" for the motor D. The said motors are for instance series motors with two fields, and are so constructed (Fig.

42% that when the current enters through a, t 'e field a is excited and the armature rotates in the direction F; but when the current enters through I), the field b is excited e and the armature rotates in the direction G. A. current distributor 10, 10', 10" makes one-half revolution at predetermined intervals. The said distributor operates three commutators; in the first, the contact piece 1'0 10 which is constantly supplied by the brush 11, is connected alternately with the contact pieces 12 and 13 which are respectively connected to the brushes 5 and 6. Inthe second, a contact piece which is in constant connection through the brush 11' with the surface 1, is alternately connected to the brushes 12' and 13 which respectively supply the two fields of the motors D and D through 14' and 14". In the third, a contact piece 10" which is constantly connected by t e brush 11" with the surface 2, is al-' ternately connected to the brushes 12 and v 13" supplying respectively the two fields of the motors D and D through 15 and 15;

, connected to the negative pole.

Thus the connections are so disposed that, on whichever'conducting surface the brushes may bear, the brush '5 shall always be moved towards the insulating curve 3 by motor D when actuated and the brush 6 proceeds similarly towards the curve 4, under influence of motor D The cylinder carrying the surfaces 1, 2 rotates on its axis according to the variations of w in such manner that the abscisses m :0 110,, etc. of the curves or the other of t e two brushes toremain on one of the curves except at each half revolution of distributor as explained hereinbelow-z suppose the brush set is as shown' on Fig. 3 in the middle of its path at the l moment when the generatrix of the cylinder under each of the brushes corresponds to the value n of :11, said value being read for each of the curves 3 and 4 on the axisof 30 m which. is, as stated before, the periphery.

of a perpendicular section of cylinder. In,

the present case of coinciding ellipses, the L origins of the abscisses for two curves are" 180 apart. When brush set is at aforementioned position let up suppose the dis-Q the other terminals of the two motors are The integratin device provi es for one 'uated in the tributor 10, 10', 10" is caused to-he in the position which allows current to flow, if brush 6 has a tendenc to move towards surface 1, through said rush 6, the surface 1 and the conductor 1 to the motor D The latter throu h its difierential 9, rotates the threaded sha t 8 and displlaces the slide 7 until the brush 6 reaches t e curve at A, after having travelled the length 6A=f(w The cylinder continuing to rotate, the brush 6 will, under the influence of the motor D follow curve, for if it had a tendency to move out of this curve, either on to the surface 1 or on to the surface 2, the motor D, would be fed either through the conductor 14" or through'the conductor 15" and bring it back on to the curve. At next half-revolution of distributor occurring as aforesaid at predetermined intervals, as will have reached a value an, and the slide will have travelled a further distance f(m (02 The distributor, having made a be t turn, will feed the motor D through the intermediary oi' the brush .5, the surface 2 on which the said brush is then bearing and the conductor 15'.

.The slide operated by the motor D will move towards the right until the brush 5 has reached the curve 4, after having travelled a distance equal to 2f(w,), and so on.

Thus each brush alternately will move along a small portion of the curves whilst I [f(%)f( 1)l+ f(= z) Q The quantities such as [f(a:,) -f(w annul one another. The rotation of shaft 1 is, therefore proportional to 2f('w,) +2f(: v

' Fig. 5 shows a modification of device described hereinbefore wherein the two brushes I 20,21 move upon two parallel plane surfaces 22, 23. The conducting part of the surface 23 is bounded by the curve 2426-25. In these conditions, the connections being the same as in Fig. 3, the set of brushes will have a reciprocating motion parallel to theaxis of y-betwee'n these two curves eachtime that m passes through the values n in, Ifatthe same time the two plates are moved together parallel to the axis of ,m according to, the law ofzvariations'of w, the totalizing shaft; 17' will give the area of the closed curve. r a

As-concerns the device shown in Fig. 3, it 'was specified above that the set of two brushes was r-i i'd, the two brushes being sit.-

plane of a given perpendicular 139 section, and having a constant angular spacing (e. g. 180). Without any change in the cylinder or the remainder of the device, one may displace the two brushes parallel to the axis of the cylinder on either side of their initial position by any suitable quantity-g (Fig. 6).

Referring to previous explanations, it will be observed that the integrating shaft 17 will totalize:

This value a may be itself variable, or for instance a={,(z),'and in this case the totalization wi lbe: i

'2 may be made without'inconvenienee a linear function of w. v The controlling device is designed to operate to this effect, and it comprises for example a square shaft (Fig. 7) guiding the.

slide 7; ascrew 2,, centered upon the said square shaft and. slidable thereon, is maintained by the journals 3 upon the slide 7 said screw drives the brush 5 in either direction, through the medium of the suitably guided nut 4... -The'device is identical for the brush'6. I may also provide an angular displacement ofthe brushes. The reciprocating brush device shown in Fig. 5 may provide for a longitudinal and a transversedisplacement of the brushes.

The course recorder, working of which is based upon integrating device such as that shown on Fig 3 1s described hereinafter. It

is proposed to register on the chart, as soon as it has been covered, each element of .the course having a fixed and determined length (e. g. of a nautical mile) covered in the direction 0 whichis supposed tobe constant during the whole time required to cover said course element. The time taken to cover the a said course element depends solely upon the speed of the vehicle (e. g.'upon a vessel it is found by means of a log). The instant at which t e vessel has completed these successive course elements will be automatically indicated by a log totalizing the distance covered, and actuating periodically for instance through an electromagnet controllin a catch device the current distributor 10, 10 10 so as to make it"revolve each time the vessel has covered a predetermined distance, the intervals between the succeeding revolutions becoming of course smaller when the speed of the vesselincreases.

If it is supposed, Fig. 8, that this course element is set off at ab upon the chart, it is observed that its componentsare a northsouth course element ab and an east-west g to the cosine of the course element ab"- 8) whose values in mileswillbe cosCand smC.

1L m cos c and sm 0.

The mechanical determination of the comv ponentsof the elementary line ab, for example of the north-south component. a'b, is effected as follows (Fig. 9) i If upon a cylinder 30 one takes an oblique section which will be an ellipse whose small axis is 3132, and if after having cut the said cylinder along the generatrix 31 one develops it upon a plane, it is known that the ellipse will produce the sinusoid 31 32 31". If any point 33 is taken upon the ellipse, this point after the developmentwill be located at '33, and the ordinate 33 33" will be proportional to the sine of an angle measured by the distance 31 33 i. e. by the length of the are 31-33" upon the cyl-. inder, and is henceproportional to the sine of the angle C apex of which is at the center.

If one considers upon the perpendicular section of the cylinder the point 35 lme joining which to the center of the section is perpendicular to the line joining said center to the point 33" this point 35 will correspond to a point 35 on the ellipse which, in

the development, is located at 35'. The ordinate 35' 35" is proportional to the cosine of an angle which is equal to the length 36 35", 36' being the point corresponding to the vertex of the sinusoid, i. e. to the point i 36 of the perpendicular section of the cylinder whieh is at right angles to the point 31,.i. e.

angle 0.

It will thus be observed that if a, suitably inclined ellipse-is drawn upon a cylinder 30, the lengths of the generatices comprised between the perpendicular section passing. through the small axis and the ellipse will be respectively proportional to fish!) and cos 0 y if they are supposed to be situated in diametral planes making respectively the angle G with the diametral lanes containing respectively the small fi-XIS' and the large axis of the ellipse. I

In an integrating device such as is shown in Fig. 3, the sliding contact takes place upon a cylinder the position of which corresponds to that ofthe head of the ship by means of a suitable transmission device controlled by the compass and whereof the two conducting parts are separated by the abovementioned ellipse. The course recorder thus devised will thus afiord the integration of the components of the elements of the course in the north-south or the east-west direction, or more generally,

a suitable system of ordinates. This can be obtained by altering the spacing of the two ellipses forming the curves 3' and 4 as men tioned hereinabove together with the angular spacing of the brushes, both of which spacings must have same value (180 in the present instance where the two ellipses coincide).,

In practice, instead of using two sets of brushes spaced 90 apart upon the same cylinder, it will be more convenientto use two like cylinders both of which are underthe control of the compass and effecting ,(by

means of suitably spaced brushes) the integration of the north-south components by means of one cylinder, and the integration of the east-west components by means of the I other cylinder.

An apparatus of this type shown in Fig. 10

comprises a first integrating device A for the planes. In the two integrating devices A and B, the elements which are the same as used in the integrating device Fig. 3 are designated by the same letters as in Fig. 3, but with the addition of the letters a or b to numerals of parts belonging to deviceA or B. The integrating shaft 17 of the integrating device B whichgives the east-west components controls -through the medium of an adjustable reducing device 45" -a shaft 46". 'u

nwhich. a slide 47 such as is shown on 11 may be displaced.

like manner, the integrating shaft 17* f th device A. controls-through the medium of an adjustable reducing device 45a square shaft 46- serving to guide the slide 47.

according to The said slide 47, Fig. 11," supports in" the known manner the frame 48 extending in the direction perpendicular to the shafts 46 and p 46; this device is herein characterized by the fact that the frame 48 is pivoted upon {ournals centered onthe squareshaft 46*,a lowing the frame 48 t0 be raised without interfering with the operation of the apparatus. Within the slide 47 is' mounted upon the.

square shaft 46 a bevel gear 49 engaginga a I like gear 50 secured to a screwl mounted on I the frame 48 and upon which is movable the guided nut 52 carrying the tracing point 53. The operation of the said course-recording deviceis as follows: when an element:%

of the course, has been covered,"a .log or clockwork, as aforementioned, actuates through suitable connection the distributor which iscaused to rotate 180- At this moment, the control devices of the compass 4141 have rotated the cylinders -40 in such manner that the parallel planes one containing the axis of cylinder 40 and the major axis of thee1lipse 42 and the other the axis of cylinder 40 and the minor axis-.of the ellipse 42' shall form (respectively) with the planes in which are situated the brushes 5, 6, and 5, 6", an angle equal to actual value ofC, which may be considered with an altogether negligible error as the mean value or vessel direction during covering of said course element. The commutators similar to the conunutatorlO, 10, 10" of Fig. 3 of the 1 two integrating devices A and B, will start the necessary motors in these devices in order that the brushes shall be displaced in the properdirection until they meet with the ellipse after having moved over distances which are proportional to the components northsouth -a b' and eastwest a b" of the course element The speed-reducing devices 45 are regulated according to the scale of the chart upon which they are to efiect the recording, in such manner that the displacements of the tracer, on the one hand upon the north-south screw 51 and on the other hand upon the east-west screw 46 shall be equal to the components of the elementof the course to be recorded. By raising the frame 48, one may operate upon the record ing table. I

I may add to the said'apparatus the counters 55 and 55", Fig. 10, indicating at each instant the course covered miles north-south and in miles east-west. In like manner, I may utilize the shafts 17, 17 in order to actuate the transmitters 56, 56 for controlled. transmission whereof the receivers (disposed iii-another station) may control an apparatus as are shown in Fig. 11.

' scale is not the same in its diflerent regions.

This is the case for example in the marine charts of the Mercator type. Inthese charts,

the length which represents one mile upon the chart depends upon the latitude. It is thus necessary that the components of the recorded elements should be multiplied by a certain factor corresponding to the latitude occupied. For this purpose, a first inte-' gratlng device is provided with a counter which indicates at each instant the latitude occupied. In Fig. 12 the said latitude counter is shown at C. It is similar to device A of Fig. 10, and it totalizes upon the shaft 17 the components of the elements of the north-south course; said shaft actuates the pinion of a difi'erential 60 whereof the other pinion, serving to make an initial record of the latitude of departure on the apparatus is controlled by a hand crank 61. The planetary pinions of the said differential control .through gearing 62, 63the two like cams a 64 and 64". At A and B are situated two integrators of the type shown in A and B on 17" of which actuate a recording slide device such as the one represented inFig. 11. The brushes 5.. 6" and 5", 6" of the two devices A and B, instead of being mounted,

directl upon the slides 7 and 7 are guided in s ots 7 7 through holders on which rods 65, 65" areslidably mounted. Said rods are also slidably On the ends of the said rods are disposed rollers which-guided in the slots 66', 66"are caused to bear upon the cams 64, 64"; the radii of the said cams, such as 67', 67", are so calculated between the distances from the roller ,68to the slide 7 and to the brushes 5, 6 shall be such for eachlatitude that the distance covered by termined by the ellipse recorded u on the cylinders-will correspond .to aistance covered 'by the slide 7 which is reduced i the ratio corresponding to the'reduction oi the length of the mile upon the chart for'the latitude occupied. The counters 55" and 55 ma indicate the latitude and longitude.

at I claim is;

1. A course recorder adding algebraically successdive values of components. 51 along a given irection of successive course elements predetermined length-making a variable ang c with said direction comprising an electric circuit, a movable element, means whereeuit, means whereby the position of the movand inserted in Fig. 10, and integrating shafts 17" andmounted upon slides that the ratio.

the brushes-whose length is de-' shafts of both actuated'by said system rotation of which of predetermined length able element causes the rotation of motorto be proportional to the value of 3 at the time of the closing of the circuit and means for adding the successive rotations of the motor.

2. A course recorder adding algebraically successive values of components 3 along a given direction of successive course elements of predetermined length making a variable angle m. with said direction comprisin an electric circuit, a movable surface u on w ich is drawn the curve 1 =cos :v electrically distinctfrom remainder of surface, a brush movable alon an ordinate of said surface circuit, means whereby the variations of :2: causes movable surface to move and ordinate corresponding to actual value of a: to be brought under brush, means whereby electric circuit is closed each time a course element of predetermined length has been covered, a motor fed by electric circuit, means whereby motor actuates brush along ordinate, means whereby brush opens circuit on arriving upon curve after having travelled a distance proportional to correspending value .of 3 means whereby success1ve rotations of motor are added together.

3. A course recorder adding algebraically successlve values of components 3 along a given direction of successive-course elements which is drawn the curve y=cos a: electrically distinct from remainder of surface, a set of two brushes movable each along an ordinate of said surface, both travelling equal distances along said ordinates and inserted each 1n one of the circuits, means whereby the variation of w causes movable surface to move and ordinate corresponding to actual value of w] to be brought under one of the brushes, means whereby one of electric circuits alternately is closed each time a course element of predetermined len b has been covered, a motor fed by eac' electric circuit, means whereby each motor actuates corres ondin brush along ordinate, means where y eac brush opens corresponding circuit on arriving upon curve after having travelled a distance pro rtional to corresponding value ing gear system meshing with motors, an integrating shaft 1sf proportional to sum of successive values 0 N Z A course recorder adding algebraically successive values of components 3/ along a given direction of successive course elements making a variable angle m with said direction comprising two electric circuits, a movable surface upon which is drawn the curve y=cos a: e

trically distinct from remainder of surface, a .set of two brushes movable each alon an ordinate of said surface, both trave ing equal distances along said ordinates and inserted each in one of the circuits, means whereby the variation of it causes movable surface to move and ordinate corresponding to actual value of a: to be brought under one of the brushes, means whereby one of electric. circuits alternately is closed each time a course element of predetermined length has been covered, a motor led by portional to corresponding value of y, an

adding gear system meshing with shafts of: both motors, an integrating shaft actuated by said system rotation of which is proportional to sum of successive values of y.

5. A device for algebraically adding successive values of components y along a given direction of successive course elements of given length making .a variable angle at with said direction, comprising two electric circuits, a rotatable cylinder, the surface of which is electrically conducting, an insulating ellipse drawn on said surface ordi mates of which taken with reference to a genera-trix and to a straight SGOUOIL ven give corresponding values of respectively :1: and y, a set of two brushes movable along opposite generatrices of cylinder. and inserted each in one or the circuits, means whereby cylinder is moved under control of the compass so that generatrix corresponding to actual value of as is brought under one of the brushes, a switch closing, one of elec tric'circuits alternately when a course element of predetermined 'length has been 1 travelled, a motor fed by each electric cirsuit, a nut upon which is mounted set or brushes, a screw threaded shaft parallel to generatrices of cylinder actuating said nut, i' and actuated by either motor, rotation imparted by motors being of opposite direction, means whereby each brush opens corresponding circuit on arrivingupon insulating ellipse after having travelled a dis- 7 tance proportional to corresponding value of a means wherebymotors' compel brushes cessive values of y.

toremain on ellipse during travel over each course element, an addin gear system meshing with shaits-ofbot motors, an integrating shaft actuated by said system, rotationof which is proportional-to sum of suc- 6. A course recording apparatus for vereference to a plane sectionof cylinders cprrespondmg respectlvely to the northcomprising two devices as claimed in claim south and the east-west components of each course element, and means whereby said devices control the corresponding displacements of a recording point upon the chart.

7. A course recording apparatus for vehicles comprising two devices as claimed in claim 5, switch of two devices being common to these and ordinates of ellipses taken with reference to a plane section of cylinders corresponding respectively to the north-south and the east-west components of each course element, both integrating shafts being disposed, parallelly, a slide forming a nut upon the integrating shaft of one of the devices and slidably mounted on integrating shaft of the other, a frame carried by shoe, pivotable round journals centered on latter integrating shaft and perpendicular to shafts, a screw threaded arm borne by said frame, means whereby rotation of said latter shaft causes rotation of arm, a tint on said arm,'a recordin point on said nut.

8. A evice for algebraically adding suc-= cessive values of components 11 along a given direction of successive course elements of given length, making a variable angle m with said direction, comprising two electric circuits, a rotatable cylinder, the surface or which is electrically conducting, an insulating ellipse drawn on said surface ordinates of which taken with reference to a given generatrix and to a straight section give corre sponding values of respectively m and 3 a set of two brushes movable along opposite gem eratrices of cylinder and inserted each in one of the circuits, a holder holding both brushes, a slotted member along which holder is movable, means whereby cylinder is moved under control of the compass so that generatrix corresponding to actual value of ai-is brought under one of the brushes, switch closing one of electric circuits alternately when a 'course element of predetermined length has been travelled, a motor fed by each electric circuit, a rod slidably mounted on brush holder, a fixed slot in which end of rod is adapted to move, a nut in which said too rod can slide, a screw threaded shafit parallel to generatrices of cylinder actuating said nut, and actuated byeither motor, ro-

tation imparted by motors being of opposite direction, means whereby each brush opens corresponding circuit on arriving upon insulating ellipse after having travelle a dis "tance proportional to correspondin value of 3 means whereby motors com e1 rushes to remain on ellipse during trave over each a course element, an adding gear system meshing with shafts of both motors, an integrating shaft actuated by said system, rotation of which is proportional to sum of successive values of y. y a 9. A. course'recording apparatus for vehicles for use with a chart of the Mercator type 8, switch of two devioesbeing common to these and ordinates of ellipses taken'with reference to a plane section of cylinderscorresponding respectively to the north-south and the east-west components of each course element, both integrating shafts being disposed parallelly, a slide forming a nut upon the inte r'ating shaft of one of the devices and slidably mounted on integrating shaft of the other, a frame carried by slide, pivotable round journals centered on latter integrating I shaft and perpendicular to shafts, a screw threaded arm borne by said frame, means whereby rotation of said latter shaft causes rotation of arm, a nut on said arm, a recording point on said nut, 21 third device according to claim 5 adding north-south components of course elements, cams actuated by integrating shaft of said device and controlling positionof extremity of rods of the two other devices in their slot.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES FREDERIC JEAN MARIE BERTIN. 

